Monday, December 04, 2006

Update - Penguin Makes Change in Warehousing Strategy

In preparation for the launch of the new Penguin Magic 2.0 (which will go into beta in the next few days)
we have strategically chosen to exit our physical operations in the UK.

In working with our shipping partners we have found ways to offer dramatically improved service
and in-stock status by shipping goods directly from the U.S. to our international customers.

All of this will be announced in conjuction with the launch of our new site. In the meantime, we very much appreciate your loyalty and support.
We are committed to serving you, our UK and European customers,
and we have made this strategic decision because it will allow us to provide you with a better level of service at a better price.

Since we opened our UK distribution center just over two years ago,
many of our UK and European customers have told us that they prefer to order from Penguin USA
because they pay lower taxes get the goods in almost the same amount of time.

The current Penguin site offers approximately 1000 products.
Penguin 2.0 will offer over 6,000 products (and a bunch of other cool features that have been requested by our users).

Thanks very much for choosing Penguin.
We're extremely excited about the road ahead! Please visit Penguin USA for all the hot new stuff (including this year's HUGE holiday bonus).

Like with a number of cases, Penguin is somewhat famous for announcing things that are going to take place "in a few days or weeks" and leaving them for a couple of months.

All I've seen change about the site is the NEW search. I don't think that quite counts as 2.0.

Since we opened our UK distribution center just over two years ago,
many of our UK and European customers have told us that they prefer to order from Penguin USA
because they pay lower taxes get the goods in almost the same amount of time.

What?!! Gimme a break please... my pre-xmas order took 4 weeks to arrive (ok, so xmas, so 2 weeks normally? I think 1 week is long enough to wait) and when it did arrive, was quickly snapped up by customs. Was a further week or so before my pregnant g/fr had time to treck accross berlin one morning (or I would have had to take the morning off work), to answer some irritating questions before being allowed to take it away - and despite penguin's cooperation, they were quite clearly not convinced that 4 packs of cards and a set of 7 dvds had a value of only $2 and purely for educational purposes.

A lucky escape this time but I've been stung by customs before after purchasing from USA and it's not funny. What seemed like a bargain ends up way more expensive than had it been bought back home.

The USA is the last place on earth I want to place my orders!!!

What?!! Gimme a break please... my pre-xmas order took 4 weeks to arrive (ok, so xmas, so 2 weeks normally? I think 1 week is long enough to wait) and when it did arrive, was quickly snapped up by customs. Was a further week or so before my pregnant g/fr had time to treck accross berlin one morning (or I would have had to take the morning off work), to answer some irritating questions before being allowed to take it away - and despite penguin's cooperation, they were quite clearly not convinced that 4 packs of cards and a set of 7 dvds had a value of only $2 and purely for educational purposes.

A lucky escape this time but I've been stung by customs before after purchasing from USA and it's not funny. What seemed like a bargain ends up way more expensive than had it been bought back home.

The USA is the last place on earth I want to place my orders!!!

How many times do I have to point this out to people!? Penguin doesn't suck – it's the fact that the US is geographically located far from Europe and the European Customs and Import that suck.

How many times do I have to point this out to people!? Penguin doesn't suck – it's the fact that the US is geographically located far from Europe and the European Customs and Import that suck.

this might be so but can i point out that... the USA sucks cuz of its rubbish £6 shippin rates and Peng.Magic sucks to an extent cuz of the fact that it' european distribution centre has shut down!!! personally i can order the same stuff from other sites at a higher price but get it for less in the end because Peng.Magics shippin rates are stupid and should be free!!!(and thats one of the few reasons i actually shopped at peng.magic!!!

Why should they have to pay for your shipping? They are a business. Their goal is to make money. They aren't making much money if they spend it all on your shipping.

this might be so but can i point out that... the USA sucks cuz of its rubbish £6 shippin rates and Peng.Magic sucks to an extent cuz of the fact that it' european distribution centre has shut down!!! personally i can order the same stuff from other sites at a higher price but get it for less in the end because Peng.Magics shippin rates are stupid and should be free!!!(and thats one of the few reasons i actually shopped at peng.magic!!!

Would you keep an unprofitable warehouse open so you can make a few 13 year old kids happy, because i wouldnt.